Spring Cleaning Your Mind and Body: A Guide to Emotional Renewal and Nervous System Regulation
- laurabrunopsychoth
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Spring is a time for fresh starts and clearing away what no longer serves us. While many of us focus on decluttering our homes, we often forget that our minds and bodies also accumulate stress, negative thoughts, and emotional baggage. This season consider a mental and emotional reset with mindful practices designed to release tension, regulate your nervous system, and invite clarity.
1. Recognizing Mental Clutter
Just like a cluttered room, our minds can become overcrowded with thoughts that weigh us down. Common signs of mental clutter include:
Persistent negative self-talk
Lingering self-doubt
Unprocessed emotions
Repetitive, intrusive thoughts
To identify your mental clutter, try this exercise:
Pause for a moment and reflect on recurring thoughts.
Ask yourself: Are these thoughts supporting my well-being, or are they draining my energy?
Visualize your mind as a space. What needs tidying up? What no longer belongs?
2. Releasing Emotional Baggage Through Somatic Tapping
Letting go of unhelpful thoughts and emotions is essential for a true reset. Somatic tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or butterfly tapping, is a powerful way to release stress. This gentle practice involves tapping on specific points of the body while acknowledging emotions, sending calming signals to your nervous system.
Try This:
Identify a challenging thought or feeling.
Cross your arms and tap your shoulders in an alternating rhythm (butterfly tapping) or gently tap on your collarbone.
Acknowledge your emotions without judgment: "Even though I feel overwhelmed, I am safe and present."
Continue tapping and breathing until you notice a sense of calm.
3. Resetting with Vagus Nerve Stimulation
The vagus nerve plays a vital role in regulating stress and promoting relaxation. Activating it can shift your body from a fight-or-flight state to a place of calm and restoration.
Ways to Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve:
Humming or Singing: The vibrations soothe your nervous system.
Cold Exposure: Splash cold water on your face or enjoy a brief cold shower.
Deep Breathing: Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, and exhale slowly for six to eight counts.
Gargling: It may sound strange, but gargling water stimulates vagus nerve function.
4. Cultivating Self-Compassion
After clearing out mental clutter, it’s essential to fill that space with kindness and self-compassion. A simple somatic practice can help you reconnect with yourself:
Place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly.
Take a deep breath and say, "I am doing the best I can."
Feel the warmth of your hands as a reminder of comfort and self-support.
Repeat a compassionate phrase like, "I deserve care and kindness."
Final Thoughts
Spring cleaning your mind and body is not a one-time task; it's an ongoing process of self-care. By using somatic tapping, vagus nerve stimulation, and self-compassion practices, you can create lasting clarity, resilience, and inner peace.
Looking for Support?
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By: Janessa Meissner
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